Rotary engine.



Patented June 13, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN co., WASHINGTON, n. C.

T. E MARTIN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.30, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented June 13, 1916.

IamwflhriZZfEz/anfih THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 60., WASHINGTON, D- c.

T. E. MARTIN.

ROTARY ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-30. 1912.

l 1 87,462 Patented June 13, 1916.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3- jay. .9.

anti

THOMAS E. MARTIN, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO SARAH CAMPBELL OFHARBOUR CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROTARY ENGINE.

Application filed. August 30, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of whichthe following is a specification.

Specification of Letters Patent.

My invention relates to rotary engines and it has for its object theproduction of a simple and inexpensive engine which may be readilyreversed, and the novel features of which may be embodied in a simple,double, triple or quadruple expansion engine which is almost perfectlybalanced and in which internal friction is reduced to the minimum.

A further object of my invention is the production of an improved engineof this type in which the construction provides for maximum leverage,due to the increased diameter of the cylinder employed over those now inuse having a given size piston, and in which the several operating partswill ro tate easily and noiselessly during their working operations.

A further object of my invention is the production of an engine of suchconstruction that rotary engines of larger size may be built thanheretofore possible, due to the elimination of all lateral thrust on theengine shaft.

A further object of my invention is the production of an engine of thistype in which the construction provides for maximum leverage due to thepossible increase in the diameter of the cylinder and of the piston overthose now in use, such increase being permitted by reason of theeliminations of side thrust.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a new andimproved construction permitting the employment of anti-frictionbearings to assure durability in use, ease of operation and theelimination of friction not otherwise possible to eli1ninate.

Still further objects are the provision of fixed piston blades wherebymaximum blade exposure is assured and by means of which the usualfriction between the piston blades and their co-acting parts is almostentirely eliminated, also whereby a greater average exposure of theblades is obtained at all times during the rotation of the rotor; to

Patented June 13, 1916.

Serial No. 717,945.

so construct the piston blades that friction thereon is reduced to theminimum and so that the amount of blade exposure or variation of loadcauses no perceptible variation in the frictional contact of saidblades; and to otherwise improve on rotary engines now in use.

lVith these objects in view the invention consists in the novel featuresof construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to behereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the subjoinedclaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional end elevation of a simpleexpansion engine with the disk portion of one of its heads removed andparts broken away to better illus trate the arrangement for admissionand exhaust of steam. Fig. 2 is a. vertical longitudinal section takenon line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the cylinderrings or liners. Fig. 4: is a face view of one of the metallic packingswith which the piston blades are equipped. Fig. 5 is an end elevation ofa double expansion engine having the disk portion of one of its headsremoved and showing the valve controlled inlets and exhausts indiagrammatic form. Fig. (3 is a diagrammatic side view of a doubleexpansion engine showing the relative position of the pistons with theirfixed piston blades, the heads and parallel divisional wall of thecasing, and the fixed eccentrics on said heads and divisional wall. Fig.'4' is a face view of the piston with its fixed piston blades. Fig. 8 isan edge view of the same. Fig. 9 is a. face view of the packing ringapplied to the peripheral. edge of the piston. 10 is an edge view ofsaid packing ring. Fig. 11 is a face view of one of the annuli formingthe inner movable wall of the steam space within the engine casing. Fig.12 is an edge view of one of said annuli. Fig. 13 is an inner face viewof one of the cylinder heads. Fig. 1a is an edge view of the same. Fig.15 is an edge view of a piston, such as used in a multiple expansionengine. Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic side view of a double expansion engineshowing the relative positions of the pistons and the heads anddivisional wall of the casing with their eccentrics, the pistons beingof the type shown in Fig. 12 in which the piston blades of one pistonare at points diametrically opposite those of the other.

Referring'now to the drawings in detail, similar letters of referencerefer to similar parts in the several figures.

The reference letter a designates the cylinder or casing having theusual heads I), each of which is provided with a short inwardly-directedeccentric or eccentrically arranged boss 0, said heads being secured toflanges formed on the cylinder portion of the casing by means of bolts,or in any other approved manner, to make the casing steam tight.

7' designates the engine shaft, the axis of which is coincident withthat of'the casing but eccentric to the bosses 0, as clearly shown inFigs. 1, 2 and 5.

d designates rotatable annuli, each being provided with an axial borento receive the eccentric bosses c, on which they are rota- .tablymounted. In order to reduce friction at these points anti-frictionbearings f are interposed between. the two, each of said bearingspreferably comprising an annular series of anti-friction rollers, whichassure free relative movement ofthe annuli on the eccentrically arrangedbosses 0. Each of the annuli has a fan shaped blade-receiving slot eextending inwardly from its periphery, the slot of one annulus beingarranged at a point diametrically opposite that of the other and the fanshaped slot being so arranged in each rotatable annulus that it isnarrowest. at the periphery of the annulus and gradually widens inwardlytoward its axis, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 5.

Arranged centrally within the casing is a piston g,which is keyed to theengine shaft j so that it will rotate therewith yet permit said shaft tobe deflected. at either or both ends when its bearings become worn,without causing said piston to moveout of true position. For thispurpose the bore of the piston is made a trifle larger than the shaft,preferably flaring or rounded in oppositedirections with the point ofgreatest restriction in a plane medially between the opposite side facesof the piston. Said piston is provided with fixed piston blades h, bypreference one projecting from each side and in a simple expansionengine, one of said blades is preferably at a point diametricallyopposite the other.

des h are located near the The piston bl vmarginal portion of thepiston, which is I itself of a size to snugly fit the cylindrical wallof the casing; it preferably having an annular groove into which isfitted a metallic packing ring 72, so that the two parts of the cylinderwhichare separated by the piston are steam tight from each other. Withthe piston arranged centrally between the heads of the casing, theannuli (Z occupy positions on opposite sides of said piston.

By reason of the annuli (i being mounted directly upon fixed bossesextending. in-

wardly from the heads 6 of the casing and the piston co-acting therewiththrough the piston blades h as intermediaries, all latmay be, until thethrust becomes so great as to render the engine inoperative. For thisreason, rotary engines are limited in size, which it is one of the primeobjects of my invention to overcome.

Lying in contact with the cylindrical wall of the casing and locatedbetween said piston and the heads of the casing are liners is, the edgesthereof facing said piston being beveled to form raceways for twoannular series of anti-friction balls '5, said balls'being in contactwith the liners and the opposite sides of the marginal portion of saidpiston, so that the latter is retained in true parallelism with theheads of the casing. F or this reason, the piston cannot be deflectedlaterally toward either head, and since the manner of attaching thepiston to the shaft issuch that the shaft may be deflected from itsaxial line when its bearings becomeworn without imparting such action tothe piston, the latter will at all times have perfect freedom in actionand by reason of its marginal portion being guided between anti-frictionbearings, frictional'contact between the piston blades and the heads ofthe casing is reduced to the minimum. The manner in which the piston maybe secured to the shaft to accomplish the results just described mayvary,

but, as stated, I preferably provide the wall p it may be deflected fromits true axis by' rocking on the convex surface of said piston bore.This connection of the piston and shaft may well be termed a non-rigidconnection since it compels one to turn with the other yet allows one acertain independent movement impossible to obtain when the parts arerigidly connected. 1

From the foregoing it will be understood that the annuli are eccentricto the piston and that the latter is concentric with the cylinder. Thispermits the employment of annuli of comparatively small diameter, theresultant of which is a comparatively large steam chamber between theannuli and the surrounding cylindrical wall of the casing, this beingparticularly true by reason of the fact that the piston blades are fixedto the piston and travel in a circular path concentric to the shaft j.

The annuli fit snugly between the piston and the heads of the casing andthe piston blades h ofthe piston are entered or partially entered in thefan-shaped blade-receiving slots thereof, depending on the position saidslots are in with respect to the axis of the piston. As shown in Fig. 1,each of the annuli lies in contact with one of the liners at one pointon the inner circumferential surface of the latter and gradually recedefrom said point in opposite directions to a point diametrically oppositewhere it is farthest from its co-acting liner, thus providing acrescent-shaped steam chamber at each side of the piston whose confiningwalls are the piston, the heads of the casing, the liners 7c and theannuli (Z,- the latter acting as movable inner walls for said steamchambers. The points at which Y the annuli (Z contact with the liners 7cserve as barriers against the backward flow of steam confined in thesteam chamber and therefore compels the steam in each chamber to actagainst only one side of the piston blade in said chamber, so as tocause rotation in the desired direction.

By reason of the piston blades 71 of the piston being entered orpartially entered in the blade-receiving slots of the annuli, said slotsgradually move from the outer ends of said blades during one-halfrevolution of said annuli and gradually move over said blades during theother half revolution, but at no time are said blades entirely free ofsaid slots. When the blade-receiving slot of each annulus reaches thepoint nearest its corresponding liner is, the co-acting piston blade isentirely within its receiving slot and as said slot gradually recedesfrom said liner during its travel to a diametrically opposite pointwhere it is farthest from said liner, its co-acting piston blade becomesgradually exposed until it reaches its point of greatest exposure, atwhich time only suiiicient of the blade remains in its receiving slot toretain said blade in such position that during the next half revolutionof the annulus the said slot will gradually pass over said blade untilthe latter again reaches its point of least exposure, or moreparticularly, until said blade is fully confined within its receivingslot.

' It is to be noted that only suflicient of each piston blade isretained in its receiving slot during greatest exposure of the blade tocompel its co-acting annulus to rotate with the piston, and by reason ofsaid slots being gradually widened inward the piston'blades are incontact with the walls of said slots only at the narrow outer endsposure, the opposite wall moves toward the adjacent side of itsco-acting piston blade, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. It is apparenttherefore that clearance must be provided in the blade-receiving slotsto prevent cramping of the piston blades. It, however, is not necessarythat the piston blades touch the side walls of their receiving slotsexcept at the narrowest points thereof; in fact, as heretofore stated,it is the intention that they be in contact only at the narrow outer endportions of said slots so as to eliminate all friction possible.

By reason of the fact that the piston blades are not retained by theannuli, as in rotary engines heretofore known, it is possible to obtainnearly double the amount of piston blade exposure and proportionatelyincreased power than otherwise, due to the fact that the annuli may beof much smaller diameter relative to the casing than in'any other motorhaving a casing of the same size, which consequently results in greaterpower. Moreover, by having the piston blades fixed to a rotatable membereccentric to the slotted annulus or annuli, as the case may be, it isnot necessary that the blades be entered in their receiving slotsfarther than necessary to retain contact with the walls of said slotsnear their outer portions when said blades are passing through thewidest portion of the steam chamber; whereas in engines in which theforce of the power medium must be entirely imparted to the side walls ofthe piston guides or slots instead of to a separate member having thepiston blades integral or fixed thereto, as in this invention, one-halfof the depth of the piston blade must be re tained in the guide slots toprovide the proper bearing for them and also to reduce cramping orbinding of the blades in the slots to a workable condition;consequently,

' to provide a piston exposure of a given depth now requires nearlydouble the depth of slot and necessarily a larger member to receive thesame, which would greatly reduce the diameter of the steam chamber andcause proportionate reduction in power.

The heads 7) of the casing are provided with oil ducts of which lead tothe annuli (Z and piston so as to properly lubricate the same. I

r designates a pipe through which steam tion being caused by theadmission of steam at one end of the crescent-shaped steam chamber, butwhen the steam is admitted at the other end of said chamber, a' reverseaction of the engine takes place; that is to say, the valves q are usedinterchangeably as inlet and exhaust valves, depending on the directionof rotation of the engine shaft.

In order that a steam tight joint-is ob tained between the twocontiguous edges of the piston blades and the inner surface of theliners k and inner surfaces of the heads 7) of the casing, each pistonblade is grooved to receive packlng strips Z shown in Figs. 1,

2 and 4.

In Figs. 5 and 6, the cylinder-or casing is divided centrally betweenits heads by an intermediate wall 5 and has a piston spaced centrallybetween said intermediate wall and each of the-end heads of the casingso as to provide a double expansion engine. This principle ofmultipleexpansion may be carried out to a greater extent, if desired; that is tosay, it may be increased to provide a triple or quadruple expansionengine by increasing the number of intermediate walls. Ina doubleexpansion engine, such as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 theeccentric bosses cin one-half of the casing are arranged opposite to those in the otherhalf. The intermediate wall or head 72 has two eccentric bosses 0 formedthereon which project from opposite faces and are arranged with theirthrow in diametrically opposite directions, the eccentric boss of oneend head being alined with one of the eccentric bosses "on theintermediate wall while the eccentric bossof the other end head isalined with the other eccentric boss of said intermediate wall. Theannuli (Z'are therefore oppositely arranged at opposite ends of thecasing, as clearly shown in full and dotted lines in Fig.

5. In this instance two sets of valves 9 are 7 provided for the casing,one set being adapt ed to provide means for regulating the admission andexhaust of the steam to and from one-half of the casing, and the otherto regulate the admission and exhaust to and from the other half of thecasing. The

steam enters the pipe r, passes into the easing at one end of one of thecrescent-shaped steam chambers, acts against the piston blades h andexhausts through the valved outlet at the other end of saidcrescentshaped steam chamber, being directed from said valved outlet bya pipe w to a valved inlet (0 opening into the other half of the casingat one end of the crescent-shaped steam chambers therein. The steamentering said last-mentioned steam chamber acts against the pistonblades h traveling therethrough and exhausts through the outlet at theother end of the same, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

In the modification shown in Figs. 15 and 16, the piston blades projectfrom the pistons g at opposite sides thereof in longitudinal alinementand when thus employed in a multiple expansion engine, the pistons areso related that the blades of one are in planes diametrically oppositethose of the other, thus equalizing the force or pressure applied to theengine shaft in the same mannor as though the blades were arranged, asshown in Fig. 6.

The operation of the device is as follows: Steam entering the casing atone end of the crescent-shaped steam chamber causes it to act againstthe exposed piston blades and causes the piston 'g and annuli altorotate,

said annuli rotating on different centers than the piston andconsequently in their revolutions have their blade-receiving slotspassing over the piston blades owing to the outer edges of the latterand the periphery of the annuli reaching a common point,'at

which both are in perfect longitudinal alinement and in contact with thetwo liners 7a. As the rotation'of the parts is continued the annuligradually move away from the outer edges of the piston blades and causethe latter to be exposed to the action of the steam entering the casing.The steam behind the piston bladesv escapes through the exhaust prior tothe pistons reaching their points of least exposure; By reason of thepiston blades'traveling in a circular path whose axis is eccentric tothat of the annuli re ceivingthem, maxlmum blade-exposure 1s obtainedwhen each blade passes through the tion and combination of elementsconstitut ing my improved engine may be utilized in rotary pumps andfans, and, 1f desired, as apower producer m which water or other elasticfluids may be substituted for that of steam, and also that variousmodifications and changes in construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any of theadvantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is,-

1. A rotary engine comprisinga casing, a rotatable element within saidcasing having a piston blade fixed thereon, and an annulus within thecasing separate from and eccentric to said rotatable element and havinga blade-receiving slot co-acting with said piston blade.

2. A rotary engine comprising a casing, a rotatable element within saidcasing having a piston blade fixed thereon, and a rotatable annulusseparate from and eccentric to said rotatable element and having ablade-receiving slot co-acting with the blade of said rotatable elementand being widened inwardly from its periphery.

3. A rotary engine comprising a cylinder or casing, a piston arrangedwithin said cas ing and spaced from opposite ends thereof, said pistonhaving piston blades projecting from opposite sides, and a rotatableannulus between said piston and each end of the casing, each annulusbeing provided with a blade-receiving slot adapted to receive itscooperating piston blade as its periphery is brought toward theouteredge of said piston blade.

4. A rotary engine comprising a casing, a shaft, a rotary elementrotatable with said shaft and having piston blades projecting fromopposite sides thereof, said piston blades traveling in a circular pathconcentric with said casing, and annuli arranged to have theirperipheries traveling in a cir-' cular path eccentric to said pistonblades, said annuli co-acting with said rotary element and each having ablade-receiving slot extending inward from its periphery to receive oneof said piston blades.

5. A rotary engine comprising a cylindrical casing having end headsprovided with eccentric inwardly-directed bosses, an annulus mountedconcentrically on each of said bosses and each having a radialbladereceiving slot formed therein, and a piston interposed between saidannuli and arranged concentric with said casing, said piston havingfixed piston blades on opposite sides adapted to co-act with the radialbladereceiving slots of said annuli.

6. A rotary engine comprising a cylindrical casing having end headsprovided with eccentric inwardly-directed bosses, an annulus mountedconcentrically on each of said bosses and each having a radialbladereceiving slot' formed therein, anti-friction bearings between saidannuli and said concentric bosses, an engine shaft passing axiallythrough said casing, a piston interposed between said eccentric bossesand being secured to said shaft, said piston having fixed piston bladesprojecting from opposite sides adapted to enter said radialblade-receiving slots, and means for introi ducing and exhausting steamto and from said casing so as to act against said piston blades,

7. In a rotary engine, the combination of a casing having a cylindricalportion inclosed at the ends with heads provided with inwardlyextendingeccentric bosses, an en gine shaft extending eccentrically through saidbosses and axially through said heads, a piston secured to said shaftbetween said eccentric bosses and having piston blades fixed thereon andarranged at opposite sides,

thereof, said piston blades being at diamet rically opposite points,annuli concentrically mounted on said eccentric bosses to providecrescentshaped steam chambers within said casing and havingblade-receiving slots to receive saidpiston blades, an inlet openinginto said steam chamber at one end, and an outlet opening thereinto atits other end.

8. A rotary engine comprising a cylin drical casing having end heads,annuli rotatably and eccentrically mounted with respect to said endheads and bearing at one point against the internal surface of said'casing to provide crescent-shaped steam' chambers, each of said annulihaving a blade-receiving slot, a rotatable element carrying pistonblades traveling in a circular path concentric to said casing andco-acting with said annuli,said blade-receiving slots being adapted toreceive said piston blades as the two approach the point at which saidannuli contact with said casing, an inlet opening into one end of eachof said steam chambers, and an outlet opening into the other endthereof. i

9. A rotary engine comprising a cylindrical casing having end heads, ashaft ex tending axially through said casing, a piston secured to saidshaft and having fixed piston blades extending from opposite sidesthereof at its marginal portion, liners facing the inner surface of thecylindrical pertion of said casing and arranged at opposite from,anti-friction bearings co-acting with the marginal portions of saidpiston to pre vent deflection thereof, and an annulusarranged'eccentrical'ly to said piston at each side thereof and providedwith a blade-receiving slot adapted'to receive a cooperating eccentricbosses having fixed pistons ex-' tending from opposite sides atdiametrically opposite points, annuli mounted on said eccentric bossesand providing two crescentshaped steam chambers at opposite sides ofsaid piston, said annuli having radial slots with the slot 'of oneannulus diametrically opposite that of the other and each co-acting withone of said piston blades, and steam "pipes connecting the opposite endsof said crescent-shaped steam chambers and adapted to be'usedinterchangeably as a steam inlet or steam exhaust.

12. A rotary engine comprising a cylindrical casing, a shaft extendingaxially 'therethrough, a piston mounted on said shaft and having fixedpiston blades extending fromfopposite sides thereof, and

annuli eccentricto said piston-arranged at opposite sides" thereof andhaving blade- J receiving slots gradually wideninginwardly and adaptedto receive said piston blades.

13. A rotary'engine comprisinga cylin-v drical casing, afSl1aftextendingtherethrough, an annulusrotatably mounted independent of said shaftand'eccentrically with respect thereto, said annulus having ablade-receiving slot-extending inward from j .its periphery, and apiston having a piston "blade adapted to co-act with saidblade-receiving slot, said piston being rotatable with said shaft. 7 a r14. A rotary engine comprising a cylindrical casing, a piston withinsaid casing having piston blades'fixed thereon extending from oppositesides thereof, eccentrically mountedelements at opposite sides of saidpiston, each in contact with the peripheral wall of thecasing at onepoint to provide crescent-shaped steam chambers, said eccentric elementsbeing in co-action with said piston blades and rotated thereby and beingadapted to entirely receive said piston blades when the latter are movedto the point of contact of said eccentric elements with said casing.

15. In a rotary engine, a piston compris ing adisk having fiat pistonblades extending from opposite sides thereof near its marginal portions,the piston blade at one side of said disk being diametrically oppositethat on the other side thereof, opposite sides of each of said pistonblades acting as working faces so that the piston may be reversed.

16. A rotary engine comprisinga cylindrical casing, a shaft extendingaxially therethrough, a pistonmounted concentrically on said shaft andhavingits peripheral edge'in contact at all points with theinnerperipheralsurface of said casing, said piston having. fiat piston bladesextending from opposite sides thereof, and rotatable annuliv mountedeccentric with respect to said piston at opposite sides thereof toprovide crescent shaped steam chambers in which said fiat piston bladestravel, said annuli having blade-receiving slots adapted to. re.

ceive said piston blades; r o

17. A rotary engineicomprisinga cylindrical; casing,:' ashaft' extendingaxially through said casing, an. element mounted concentrically on saidshaft and having fixed laterally extending piston? blades thereon atdiametrically opposite points, and

an annulus'at each side of said concentrically mounted element andliavingslots'to receivesaid piston blades.

In testimony that I claim the invention. i above set forth I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.. V 1

I THOMAS E. MARTIN.

'lVitnesses: h v a GE R. Rrx,.

ALICE M. VOGELMAN.

Copies-o! this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe ,Commissioner of Patents. I Washington, D.G.

